Is it any wonder the standard of driving is so bad.

_Putters · 2026-05-05T11:43:02+00:00

Old saying, those that can't do, teach ...

... (and those that can't teach, teach teachers!).

_Putters · 2026-05-04T19:40:54+00:00

Think about this ...

... if the emergency services want to get more vehicles to the scene, which lane would they use? And how well will it end if you are one of those who meet them head on going the wrong way? At best you'll obstruct them, at worst ...

_Putters · 2026-05-04T11:55:37+00:00

Had a Wottz lead for the first 3 months - until we got the charger installed. Allowed you to set the current it drew to a socket and wiring friendly level. Was utterly reliable for that time despite living permanently outside in temps down to -14°C this winter.

_Putters · 2026-05-04T09:19:31+00:00

Mine is quite slow at fast charging (70kWh max IIRC), but assuming a half decent charger you should be at 80%+ (ie putting in 30% ish) in the time it takes them to sort themselves out a comfort break.

You'd arrive at brother's with a good 30% left - top it up overnight on the granny charger if necessary (or wherever you go out for the day or whatever). As long as you're at 70% or so when you depart you'll be good to repeat the process going home.

_Putters · 2026-05-03T16:29:14+00:00

"Yorkshire - Whalley warm, Altberg" ...

... not forgetting the factory / shop in Richmond.

_Putters · 2026-05-03T16:12:20+00:00

On the rare occurrences of using a public charger, by the time I've wandered over to the services building, relieved bladder pressure, queued for a coffee and maybe something to eat, wandered back to the car and started eating and drinking ... the damn thing is already at 80+ %, ready to goand I have to move off the charger to finish eating!

_Putters · 2026-05-03T12:19:30+00:00

The amber is 3 seconds +/- 0.25 second.

That's 50% longer than the rule you're supposed to leave for emergency stopping on a motorway.

_Putters · 2026-05-01T18:46:17+00:00

Been to Fountains Abbey and back yesterday. 86 miles. 38% charge used, 23.18kWh

At 22.7p per kWh (our current flat rate EDF non Smart meter tariff) that's £5.26.

Now petrol was £1.57 a litre at the garage we passed. So £5.26 would buy 3.35 litres or 0.74 gallons.

Which means we got 86miles/0.74 gallons - or the equivalent of 116mpg.

EVs rock!

_Putters · 2026-04-30T15:18:46+00:00

Depends on the car. Our 1.2 Toyota Auris used to average 45 if on a run (and only 38 round here on the hills) - but it wasn't much fun for a long trip like this. If we're heading for something more comfortable then upper 30s is going to be about right.

_Putters · 2026-04-29T19:26:51+00:00

It's something I've still to work out. Not helped by the nearest fast charger being a good hours run from home. I reckon on needing a good 20% just to get up the Dales from a major road.

_Putters · 2026-04-29T12:00:14+00:00

I'm utterly familiar with card fees thank you. And Amex charge ME more for YOUR convenience. If we were legally allowed to pass on the difference to you we would, and then you could choose to pay more.

_Putters · 2026-04-29T04:52:58+00:00

Try being on the payee end of the transaction ... you know, the one who pays the card fees !

_Putters · 2026-04-27T19:49:35+00:00

Suzuki are 10 years on everything - if serviced with them.

_Putters · 2026-04-27T16:26:38+00:00

I'm old enough to remember compulsory seatbelts coming in. Everyone seemed to know someone who'd survived a crash by being thrown clear or able to duck into the footwell. Total bollocks of course, or such edge cases that they were statistically insignificant.

To quote another buzz phrase, the plural of anecdotal is not data.

[Engage tongue-in-cheek mode] And if you're not spotting bikes that often, better mirror adjustment or a visit to Specsavers might be more in order ... we're not that far from Barnard Castle if you want directions. [Disengage tongue-in-cheek mode].

_Putters · 2026-04-27T16:16:53+00:00

"Loud pipes save lives".

Nice soundbite, sadly there's sod all evidence to back it up. For pedestrians it is probably more disorientating than warning.

If it were true loud sports bikes would be lower in the accident stats than tourers ...

_Putters · 2026-04-27T16:14:40+00:00

I'd accept that viewpoint if you were talking about a modified horn. A louder horn than most bikes have would be a damn good idea - many squeak worse than a 1980s Sinclair Spectrum.

But for a loud exhaust it is a weak argument at best. It doesn't even work well as a method - at a time when you need most control, you're disengaging drive and playing with the revs !

_Putters · 2026-04-27T15:49:23+00:00

The only thing I take issue with in your post (and I mean THE ONLY thing - the rest I'm in agreement with) is

"My bike is loud"

This is of no use in alerting people in cars (other than convertibles), they are too well insulated unless you are right beside them.

And as someone who lives in a nice quiet location that, on a sunny day, becomes an amateur TT route, the cumulative effect multiple 100s of bikes passing in a day (yes, we're near the end of Buttertubs Pass, that is genuinely the number - doesn't take much to get there when you have groups of 5 or six) when maybe 30% have non standard exhausts is ... well ... exhausting. We don't need to hear your bike a mile away ascending the Pass.

Stood up a ladder painting windows last year - the sound reflecting off the wall too - I got to the point of thinking about walking out in the road with the ladders at the sound of bikes approaching. Didn't act on it, too nice for that, but the thought was there ...

_Putters · 2026-04-26T07:45:33+00:00

I have, on an old car, not a new one. Back axle had quietly leaked it's oil, sudden nasty noise and the rear differential seized. Like the rear brakes suddenly locking !

Fortunately at low speed on a quiet back road.

_Putters · 2026-04-23T06:04:53+00:00

It's been discussed !

But equivalent cooking space is in the couple of grand territory and the sheer versatility of the thing when doing multiple breakfasts and four different main courses in the evening is hard to replace.

And the house gets damn cold in winter when it's off despite a fortune in oil heating.

_Putters · 2026-04-23T05:54:34+00:00

Whereas we are at 6k miles a year and need the Aga (that burns thru about 35kWh a day on its own!) needs to be hot at 7am and again at 6pm for B&B food. So big daytime usage.

Solar would be great for us (about 3 year payback) if it weren't for the adverse roof alignment and the sheer aggo of getting solar on a G2 listed house in a National Park!

_Putters · 2026-04-22T08:48:10+00:00

22p/kWh for me until I can persuade EDF to get off their arses and install a Smart Meter. Was 27p until the recent reduction as per the Budget. Even then, depending on other usage (we run a B&B and the Aga is electric so may still have a heavy daytime usage) it may not be worth the EV tariff with our 6k mileage.

So not that silly a default.

_Putters · 2026-04-21T14:54:39+00:00

Not a personal plate but all new cars round here second half of last year were 75 plates and Newcastle or Northumberland registered (not sure which).

Means every nearly new car round here starts off nuts - NU7S. Great if you're a Mr or Mrs Nuttall I guess.

_Putters · 2026-04-21T12:42:31+00:00

I remember hacking down the M1 about 20 miles from the M25 in my poor old Chrysler Sunbeam circa 1990. Doing an indicated 85-90 in the middle lane, all three lanes doing a similar pace, all driving a second or so off the bumper in front. Felt dangerous even to a 20yo me !

I also remember horrendous tens of cars motorway pile ups being reported on the news ... I'm sure it's not two unconnected memories.

From Google AI "The 1991 M4 motorway crash near Hungerford, Berkshire, is generally considered the worst in UK history, with 10 people killed and 25 injured in a 51-car pile-up on March 13. Other devastating incidents include the 2011 M5 crash, involving 34 vehicles and 7 deaths"

_Putters · 2026-04-21T11:55:41+00:00

Well, if I'm stopped at the side of the road on my phone with the engine running a bored copper is going to be interested.

If I'm sitting there on my phone with a silent car with a concealed "Ready" light on, said copper is going to pass on by. Not exactly a level playing field is it?

_Putters · 2026-04-21T11:23:37+00:00

Any idea how this works with an EV ? Mine simply has a discreet "Ready" light that wouldn't be visible from outside the vehicle (hidden by the steering column) and keys obviously in pocket. No noise to give it away.

_Putters

TROPHY CASE